Honouring the Men who gave their lives whilst serving in the Merchant Navy
and whose names are on the Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

S.S. TANDA (Glasgow)  -  WW2

At 22.13 hours on 15 Jul 1944 while on a journey from Melbourne via Colombo to Bombay (Mumbai), the unescorted SS Tanda was hit by two torpedoes from U-181 and sank about 52 miles northwest of Mangalore (Mangaluru, India) in the Arabian Sea. Eighteen crew members and one passenger were lost including the Radio Officer, Robert Claud Vivian Humphrey, who sent the distress call that saved the lives of the master, 158 crew members, twelve gunners and 26 passengers who were picked up and landed at Colombo on 18 July.

Wireless Operator Colum St Kiernan BEGDON
Born: Shanghai
also known as Colin K Begdon
Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 9-4-1943 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Killed in Action 16-7-1944, At sea (Arabian Sea, off India)
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England - Panel 106
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

First Radio Officer William Harold HARRIS
Born: Cornwall
Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 13-1-1939 - Sydney, N.S.W.
Died 16-7-1944 at sea, aged 49years
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England - Panel 106
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

Wireless Operator Robert Claude Vivian HUMPHERY
Merchant Navy
Date of Engagement 8-6-1944, Sydney N.S.W.
Died at sea 16-7-1944, aged 49years
Son of Robert Arthur and Sharlie Maud Vivian Humphery, of Vaucluse, Sydney,
Awarded King's Commendation for Brave Conduct
Awarded Lloyd's War Medal
Honoured: Tower Hill Memorial, London, England - Panel 106
Australian War Memorial Commemorative Roll

NX119988 Major (Maj, later Lieutenant Colonel) Robert Claud Vivian Humphery signalling with a heliograph from Tamworth lookout to Warral Siding, about ten miles away. Maj Humphery served as 6518 Corporal Humphery with the 33rd Battalion in France during the First World War. In 1939 he joined the Royal Australian Corps of Signals and served with training battalions at Greta, Tamworth and Casula. In June 1944 he joined the Merchant Navy as a Wireless Operator and died at sea on 16 July 1944, aged 49, when the SS Tanda was sunk by a submarine torpedo in the Arabian Sea. he received the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct and was awarded Lloyd's War Medal.